The clean energy transition and energy security are the same imperative

By Eduardo Medina, CEO of RES Group

Behind every wind farm or solar installation in America are real jobs in steel mills, glass plants and electrical manufacturing facilities, in communities that have built their livelihoods around the clean energy industry. According to the American Clean Power Association, renewables supported 1.4 million jobs and contributed $150 billion to the US economy in 2025 alone. More than 140 solar manufacturing facilities now operate across the country, supporting over 75,000 workers and adding more than $11.5 billion annually in US GDP.

These are not marginal numbers. They are the story of an energy industry that has become one of America’s most significant industrial forces.

Renewables now account for 22% of US electricity generation, and the economic case for continued growth is compelling. The Inflation Reduction Act helped unlock much of that investment, and the job creation it generated reflects the broader value of sustained policy support. As the landscape continues to evolve, the fundamentals remain strong. At RES, our approach has always been to pla carefully and act decisively – when recent legislative changes introduced a new framework for tax credit support, we moved quickly to secure our project pipeline to ensure the infrastructure we are committed to delivering continues to move forward.

But the story extends beyond regional economics. When the Strait of Hormuz was disrupted in February 2026, it was a stark reminder of how interconnected and vulnerable global energy systems remain. Approximately 20% of global oil supply and 20% of the world’s seaborne LNG passes through a waterway barely 21 miles wide. When that passage is affected, prices rise and economies quickly feel the impact.
The lesson is a familiar one. Energy security cannot rely on a single trade route, resource or geopolitical relationship. Wind and solar are domestic sources of energy, not exposed to the same pressures as imported fossil fuels. Countries investing in renewables are investing in independence, resilience and price stability – and as IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol recently put it: “I never heard that anybody ever regretted building renewables.”

We are already seeing this reflected globally. Governments from the Philippines to India and across Europe are accelerating renewable deployment in response to growing energy security concerns. The IEA’s State of Energy Policy 2026 confirms that 150 countries now have active policies supporting renewable deployment.

The clean energy transition and energy security are no longer separate conversations. They are increasingly part of the same global challenge: how to provide affordable, reliable and sustainable energy while strengthening resilience for the future.

RES has held that perspective for more than forty years globally, and for nearly three decades in the US. Across twenty-four countries, through changing policy environments and market cycles, we have seen the long-term fundamentals of clean energy continue to strengthen. From our Denver Operations Control Center managing assets to our new Houston warehouse, our investments reflect that commitment in practice. We work alongside governments, communities and industry partners to help deliver clean energy infrastructure that supports both economic growth and energy resilience.

The question is no longer whether the transition to renewable energy will continue, but how quickly and effectively it can be delivered. At RES, we remain focused on helping create a future where everyone has access to affordable, zero-carbon energy.